Frank Stepuchin Wins WPT Gardens Poker Championship for $548,825

It was a November Nine style wait for Frank Stepuchin and his rivals for the WPT Gardens Poker Championship – the six final tablists resuming yesterday after a 55 day break, and Stepuchin emerging as the winner of the title and $548,825 top prize…

By: Andrew Burnett

The WPT decision to host their final tables this season at the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas made it a special occasion – the second of three final tables to be given the VIP televised treatment, with David ‘ODB’ Baker winning the LA Poker Classic in the same Luxor converted pokerroom the previous day.

As Baker was lifting his title, Stepuchin was telling PokerNews in advance of his own big final: “I’m not boasting; I’m just being positive, I’m going to win,” though adding: “Win or lose, it’s gonna be fun.”

Win he did, however, after taking out four of his five challengers for the WPT title and munching on chicken wings and supping the occasional beverage as he did so - a real ‘character’ as they say.

Shannon Shorr proved to be the biggest obstacle in Stepuchin’s way, but a massive chip lead proved too much for the Birmingham, Alabama man when heads-up play began, and a brutal rivered better two pair ended the battle a short while later.

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